Goodie bag expectations

I'm curious as to what people's expectations are of goodie bags at the end. Are tehre any that have stood out for people as outstanding or terrible? MIght be helpful for race organisers to have a ball park of what people think.

Generally, I am just after the medal, and I think it's sensible to offer people something sugary and a drink after a 10K or half and something reasonable to eat after a marathon. I have some lovely "free" t-shirts but also some quite bad ones; if it's one size only and cotton, I'd rather it was an optional extra and the race without T-shirt price came down a bit. Aside from that, I'm not really that bothered about goodie bag contents, but possibly I'm going to the wrong events and there are amazing ones out there?

I tend to assume (when given a goody bag) that it's more likely to be subsidising my entry fee rather than my entry fee being spent on it. The last time I had one it contained multiple leaflets, maybe a voucher or two, a strange herby breadcrumb coating to bake chicken breasts in (why?!), some weird coffee-flavoured sweets, and a sample running magazine. Oh, and a packet of crisps (I ate those). I don't imagine any of those things were bought by the organisers with my entry fee. It's just a way for sponsors to advertise themselves. Which is fair enough if I get free crisps.

I don't have any expectations about goodie bags, but the best ones I've received have contained water, banana, granola bar and recovery drink. Things to eat and drink immediately after the race are by far preferable to a few dozen leaflets and a sample size pack of shower gel.

Literatin -- I get what you're saying as goodie bags usually contain a lot of leaflets and sh*t provided by some of the sponsors... Sometimes some of the sponsors provide money that can be spent on the content. If there's no money to spend then the question is a bit redundant anyway.

I still maintain that asking what people expect out of an organised race is the better question... When that is know it's then possible to work out how to finance it -- entry fee, sponsorship, etc.

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